Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Drinks Juice Boxes for Adults: mar-GO-ritas
Posted by Chris Chamberlain on Wed, Sep 8, 2010 at 7:32 AM
Named after the last names of brothers Antonio and Sal LaMartina and their friend Craig Cordes, the product was invented out of frustration, as the twenty-something founders were tired of being prohibited from carrying glass containers to the beach or the pool. Since they were still young enough to remember sipping out of Capri Sun pouches, the trio began to investigate creating an adult version of that kiddie favorite.
Their resealable flexible packaging recently won the beverage industry's top award for ingenuity, and the hooch inside ain't bad either. Planning ahead for the inconsistent liquor laws that vary from state to state, the Cordina boys recognized that a liquor-based product would not be as successful in areas that don't allow liquor sales in groceries or convenience stores. But they were also smart enough to avoid the malt liquor concoctions that are flavored to taste like margaritas or wine coolers or any number of nasty faux cocktails.
Restaurant openings Copper Kettle Is Cooking Up a Location in Columbia
Posted by Dana Kopp Franklin on Wed, Sep 8, 2010 at 6:03 AM
Creating fresh takes on Southern cuisine is what Copper Kettle is known for (“Putting the South in Your Mouth,” its Web site proclaims). And they're about to open a location even further south — well, about 40 miles southwest in Columbia, Tenn.
The new place will be on the historic square in Columbia, serving lunch and dinner, and it will also offer extensive banquet facilities. Located at 117 W. Seventh St., it’s expected to open by the end of September.
Meanwhile, Copper Kettle has been extra busy lately with catering. For inquiries about catering, in Nashville or in the upcoming Columbia quarters, call 615-742-5545, ext. 2.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
News Vanderbilt Med Center Dropping McDonald's, Welcoming Au Bon Pain
Posted by Dana Kopp Franklin on Tue, Sep 7, 2010 at 2:31 PM
- Au Bon Pain
- A Caprese sandwich and peach iced tea at the Au Bon Pain at La Guardia Airport.
Well, you only have a few more months to indulge a Big Mac attack within gurney's range of the emergency room. As part of a wider initiative to expand healthy food options and nutritional awareness, Vanderbilt has picked another national chain, Au Bon Pain, to replace McDonald’s when the Golden Arches' lease is up in January.
You can get more details in my Food Biz column in the Nashville Post section of the print edition of The City Paper. The important thing to know, in Vanderbilt's view, is that the change is not intended as a criticism of McDonald's (and, we presume, especially not Ronald).
“This isn’t any sort of attempt to single out McDonald’s,” said Vanderbilt University Medical Center spokesman John Howser. “McDonald’s has been a great partner, lo these many years.”
Fun and Games Food Songs for the Ages
Posted by Nicki Wood on Tue, Sep 7, 2010 at 7:20 AM
That's why Parry Gripp's loopy little food ditties are such fun. Gripp's Wikipedia entry calls them fake jingles.
Our attention was first captured by the catchy, infectious "Do You Like Waffles?"— a real hit with the preschool set. Listen to it below, or get the full effect with the YouTube video of pre-breakfast, pajama-clad tots lip-synching.
Do You Like Waffles
Barbecue That Sow's Ear Really IS a Silk Purse
Posted by Chris Chamberlain on Tue, Sep 7, 2010 at 6:00 AM
A case in point is Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q. There's certainly nothing overtly wrong with the place. The food is solid, the service is dependable and the decor is actually a fairly thoughtful representation of the original restaurant. I just always assumed that because they have 20-something locations in seven states, somehow they had devolved from a BBQ joint to Olive Garden status and were unworthy of my recognition.
Shows how much I know. The Nick of Jim`N Nick's is Nick Pihakis, and I just found out that he's been nominated for a James Beard Award as one of the top 20 restaurateurs in America. That's some pretty high cotton for pig to trot in. They have also been a participant in the Big Apple BBQ Block Party that has featured our own Pat Martin for the past couple of years.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Events Grins Invites All to Vegetarian-Kosher Gourmet Dinner
Posted by Dana Kopp Franklin on Fri, Sep 3, 2010 at 5:17 PM
Chef Rusty Johnson has come up with a creative menu that is both vegetarian and kosher, and a pretty good deal, as well, with four courses for $30 (tax and tip not included). The dinner is at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 12.
The meal will start with house-made focaccia with fresh herb butter, followed by: chilled sweet corn soup with basil, mint and chili oil; cornmeal-battered okra and Vidalia onion fritter with heirloom tomato, green goddess dressing and sumac; stone-baked pizzetta with baby lima puree, Juliet tomato, garlic confit, parmesan and parsley; and for dessert, a dark chocolate-clementine pot de crème with vanilla bean whipped cream.
Wine Wandering Wino: What Could be More Pleasant Than a Trip to Mt. Pleasant?
Posted by Chris Chamberlain on Fri, Sep 3, 2010 at 7:19 AM
About an hour down I-65 South, between Columbia and Lawrenceburg, lies the charming town of Mt. Pleasant, Tenn. And in this little hamlet, there is a very interesting eatery called the Mt. Pleasant Grille. Located right on the town square at 100 S. Main St., the Mt. Pleasant Grille is a combination of an old-timey soda shop and fine-dining restaurant. With an eclectic international menu, they seek to provide for every dining need for the whole town.
Now they want to share the experience with some of us high-falutin' city folk. They have launched a Wine Club they call "The Grape Escape" to feature the many wines they offer and offer education and discounts to budding oenophiles.They are also hosting their first ever wine dinner for Grape Escape members on Tuesday, Sept. 14, at 6 p.m. The five-course dinner, which is $45 per person inclusive, features a French-themed menu with wine pairings.
The menu, created by Mt Pleasant Grille’s Executive Chef Carlos Garcia, is a journey through France via its traditional cuisine. The wine pairings complement the rich, classic cuisine. The menu is as follows:
Open Thread The Perfect Fundraiser for Weekly Open Thread
Posted by Nicki Wood on Fri, Sep 3, 2010 at 6:00 AM
Dirt, Guts, & Donuts II calls itself "the South's most delicious mountain bike race." But that is really underselling it.
DGD II combines cycling, pastries, books and a mid-October date (the 16th) for ideal cycling weather. The Lock 4 race includes two doughnut stops, where you can eat doughnuts and get two minutes knocked off your total for each doughnut. Proceeds go to Ride for Reading, which delivers books via bicycle to neighborhoods where age-appropriate books are scarce.
Some Bites and Scene favorite haunts are supporting the ride, including Krispy Kreme, Halcyon Bike Shop, Bicycle Lounge, Cumberland Transit, Eastside Cycles, Bike Pedlar and Woody's Bicycles. Oh, and there are prizes and swag, and Trek will be there with bikes to test-ride.
You just don't need anything else for a perfect event.
What's got you excited this week?
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Restaurants Peter Chinn's Korean BBQ Taco: Chinn Up in This Week's Scene
Posted by Carrington Fox on Thu, Sep 2, 2010 at 2:52 PM
Since our visit, the chef has already expanded the menu to include burritos, which include the taco fillings, as well as rice and beans, on a flour tortilla. Other changes are on the way to the fledgling business, including the introduction of chef’s feature dishes. In the future, Feo says he hopes to have a taco truck downtown at lunch and late-night.
If you visit Peter Chinn’s, please report back on any new findings.
Cheap Eats / Events The Super Deals of Restaurant Week Return Sept. 13-19
Posted by Dana Kopp Franklin on Thu, Sep 2, 2010 at 12:12 PM
One of the more common (and fabulous) deals is for a restaurant to offer a three-course menu for $20.10 (easy to remember since that's the current year). Some restaurants do three courses for $30.10. But there are lots of other special offers, as well.
Smart cookies will make their reservations now. Details are at www.nashvilleoriginals.com. The Originals now have 41 members, ranging "from funky to fancy-pants," according to spokeswoman Laura Hill. Read the full release after the jump.
